Chemistry:Nissonite

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Nissonite
Nissonite-132872.jpg
Nissonite from Iron Monarch open cut, Iron Knob, Middleback Range, Eyre peninsula, South Australia, Australia
General
CategoryPhosphate mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)
Cu2Mg2(PO4)2(OH)2·5H2O
Strunz classification8.DC.05
Crystal systemMonoclinic
Crystal classPrismatic (2/m)
(same H-M symbol)
Space groupC2/c

Nissonite is a very rare copper phosphate mineral with formula: Cu2Mg2(PO4)2(OH)2·5H2O. It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system typically as crusts, tabular crystals, and diamond-shaped crystals. The color is blue-green. It has a light green streak, a Mohs hardness of 2.5 and a specific gravity of 2.73. Cleavage is {100} distinct.

Nissonite was discovered in 1966 and was named after William H. Nisson (1912–1965). It is from Llanada copper mine, near Llanada, San Benito Co., California .

References